Our garden has 100 plots and most of the people
who garden go about their own business and do not help with communal jobs.
This is despite people agreeing to help, signing up, etc. We have one gardener
who has done most of the important routine tasks, like setting up and
maintaining our water system, mowing common paths and areas, and dealing with
any labour-intensive issue that arises. We would be lost without him
but feel he is being taken for granted. Here's where the advice is
needed: we would like to pay him a stipend, honorarium, whatever you want to
call it, of maybe a couple of hundred dollars per season that he does this
work. He knows nothing about this idea. The money's not a lot but at least it
would recognise his importance to the continuance of the garden. We also
have a significant amount in our budget so would not be adversely affecting
the garden's financial situation. Appreciate any feedback; the committee has a
meeting tomorrow(Thuirsday) night.